To become the most outstanding Suzhou embroidery artist, Yang Yi expected that Shen Sanniang would be a middle-aged woman anyway, but what he never expected was that Shen Sanniang was only seventeen years old and had just gotten married last year. Her husband's family was a wealthy businessman in Wu County.
Shen Sanniang has a delicate face with melon seeds, her eyebrows are drawn into the distant mountains, and her cheeks are dyed with light clouds. She is a typical water town woman, clear and graceful. When Yang Yi saw her, she was in front of the frame, holding needle and thread for the embroidery workshop. The woman was demonstrating and explaining at the same time, and her soft Wu Nong's soft words were very nice to hear.
"There are several key points in this double-sided embroidery. You should remember it. First, when embroidering, cut the thread tails neatly, pierce from top to bottom, then start the needle two or three threads away from the needle, and draw out a little thread tail, then lower the thread. When stitching, press the end of the thread and connect the short needle several times to hide the end of the thread so that the end of the thread is not exposed on both sides.
Secondly, when embroidering, hold the needle vertically so as not to pierce the embroidery thread on the reverse side. Furthermore, master the pin arrangement: arrange the pins very evenly in order, without improper density, so that both sides can be equal. There is also the hidden head, which hides the end of the thread in the last stitch and cannot expose the thread end. "
Shen Sanniang kept her hands on her hands while explaining. Her fingers were slender and round, as green and white as spring, showing the soft and watery grace of a Jiangnan woman.
The embroidery needle as thin as hair seems to have become spiritual in her hand, making you feel that it is not her fingers threading the needle and thread, but her fingers dancing with the needle and thread;
Just watching her beautiful movements is a kind of enjoyment. Her fingers are filled with spring breeze, her eyes are staring at the bowl, and she is embroidering a beautiful fate on the level of time, stitch by stitch.
In her, you can clearly understand what a Jiangnan woman is like. Jiangnan women are like Shen Sanniang, pure and clear. Beautiful and delicate. Elegant, always revealing water-like tenderness and wisdom inadvertently.
Because Shen Sanniang was too focused, Yang Yi, Qing Niang and Adela were brought into the spacious embroidery workshop by the doorkeeper, but she didn't even notice;
The woman guarding the door wanted to go up to report, but Yang Yi stopped her. On the contrary, her husband Xu Jinghong hurried to the embroidery workshop after receiving the report, and Xia Mingqing, the magistrate of Wuxian County, also hurriedly arrived, and everyone couldn't help but greet her.
Xia Mingqing was surprised and happy. He bowed his head repeatedly and said: "Taifu Yang has come to our Wuxian County. It is really a blessing for all the people of our Wuxian County. Xiaguan Tian is the local parent official. I am late to welcome you. I hope Taifu Yang will forgive me. Taifu Yang, Xiaguan was already pregnant when he came." I have prepared some water and wine for Taifu Yang to catch the wind and wash away the dust. I also hope that Taifu Yang can move to appreciate the honor, so that the lower officials can fulfill their friendship as landlords."
Yang Yi said with a smile: "Mr.
Yang Yi¡¯s name is as loud as thunder. He suddenly appeared in the embroidery workshop. As the owner, Xu Jinghong was equally nervous and excited, but the status of the two parties was very different. In addition, Xia Mingqing, the magistrate of the county, was here, so he had no chance to speak.
Why is Yang Yi here?
When Xu Jinghong was feeling uneasy. Yang Yi suddenly asked him: "Young Master Xu, you don't have to be formal. I'm taking the liberty of visiting. I just want to learn more about Su embroidery. May I ask, Mr. Xu, how many embroidery workshops like yours are there in Wuxian County?"
"I don't dare, I don't dare. Mr. Yang is too polite. I really don't dare to call him Mr. Yang. Mr. Yang should just call me a villain." Xu Jinghong bowed and didn't dare to say.
Then he replied, "Back to Mr. Yang, apart from my family, there are several embroidery workshops in our Wuxian County, but they are not as big as my family's. There are more than twenty or as few as a few embroidery workers. However, I in Wuxian County can embroider." There are quite a few women there, most of them embroider alone at home, and most of the embroidery they produce is kept for their own use, and a small amount is sold in the market."
Yang Yi nodded slightly and understood what Xu Jinghong said. Today's Su embroidery can only be found in Wuxian County. Most of them are used by women in the boudoir to pass the time in their spare time. Just like our Qin Cao and other women, they sometimes embroider some handkerchiefs and so on, but do not make a living from it.
In this case, embroidery is mostly used as a personal hobby for self-entertainment. It lacks profit motivation, communication and development, and it is difficult to truly form an industry that benefits thousands of households.
"How did Mr. Xu think of opening such a large embroidery workshop?"
"This" Xu Jinghong was a little embarrassed. Naturally, he opened this embroidery workshop to make money. His wife's embroidery skills were well-known far and wide. The Xu family was a wealthy businessman in Wu County. He immediately thought of using Shen Sanniang's reputation to open an embroidery workshop; hire someone with a certain foundation in embroidery. Women, let Shen Sanniang teach and embroider at the same time. This can bring a generous income to the family.
To put it bluntly, the purpose of opening this embroidery workshop is to make money, but I am embarrassed to say this directly to Yang Yizhi.
Yang Yi reacted and laughed loudly: "For money, Mr. Xu opened the embroidery workshop for money. There is nothing bad to say about it. I am here for money and for the world."Everyone can make money. Opening this embroidery workshop in your family is a matter of self-interest and benefiting others, so you should encourage it. "
"Thank you for the compliment, Mr. Yang. I am really ashamed of myself."
Yang Yi continued with a smile: "If Mr. Xu doesn't mind, let your wife come forward. I have something to ask her. How about that?"
"Taifu Yang has an order, how dare you disobey me?" Xu Jinghong lowered his head. He was quite handsome and well-educated, which was a good match for the elegant and graceful Shen Sanniang.
"Young lady, I have met Mr. Yang." Then Shen Sanniang formally came up to salute her. Her body was elegant and soft as water, but her eyes were uneasy. When she saluted, she quietly glanced at her husband, implying that The meaning of asking for help.
Yang Yi was secretly amused, and tried his best to say in an easy-going tone: "Madam of the Xu family, without giving any gifts, can you show me your best embroidery? I would like to present it to the Queen Mother. If the Queen Mother likes it, I will give it to you." There must be little reward.¡±
Xu Jinghong and Shen Sanniang were filled with joy after hearing this. If they could really get the Empress Dowager's praise, the status of the Xu family would be different. This kind of opportunity is something that a commoner can only dream of.
Shen Sanniang quickly took out an embroidery and spread it out on the embroidery screen. This embroidery was called "March in the South of the Yangtze River". Near the upper right corner, there were several typical Jiangnan-style tile-roofed houses in the distance. In front of the house was the wide river. There are several small boats moored on the river, and there are large apricot blossoms on the shore. The trees are full of red apricots, so beautiful;
The whole embroidery has distinct layers. The pattern is beautiful and the idea is clever. The embroidery work is meticulous and the stitching techniques are lively and agile, vividly embroidering the beautiful scenery of the Jiangnan water town.
Qingniang and Adela saw this ingenious embroidery and couldn't put it down immediately, admiring it endlessly. They usually embroidered some flowers, but they couldn't compare with Shen Sanniang's exquisite embroidery work.
Seeing that Qing Niang and Adela liked it so much, Shen Sanniang quickly took out two more embroideries and presented them to them.
There are often thousands of these fine embroideries, which are considered very valuable items. Qing Niang and Adela didn't dare to accept it without authorization, and couldn't help but look at Yang Yi.
Yang Yi said with a smile: "Mrs. Xu's kind words, if you like it, just accept it and give some gifts to Mrs. Xu in return."
Qing Niang and Adela then dared to accept the embroidery, and each gave Shen Sanniang a big gift in return.
Yang Yi waited for them to finish being polite to each other before continuing: "Mrs. Xu, to be honest, I am here to ask for something from Mrs. Xu."
Xu Jinghong heard what he said. She quickly answered before Shen Sanniang: "What are the instructions from Master Yang? But after asking for instructions, Master Yang said that he wanted to ask for help from Zhuojing. This is to destroy the common people and Zhuojing."
Yang Yi waved his hand and said: "You guys wait until I finish. I came here this time to really ask for something. Now we have established many large-scale textile factories all over the Song Dynasty. And there will be more and more such textile factories, which will have a great impact on The ancient tradition of men farming and women weaving has had a great impact. Many women will no longer be able to make a living by weaving;
With this in mind, I am preparing to report to the imperial court. Establish "training institutes" in various states and counties, especially in the Jiangnan area, and invite people like Mrs. Xu who are skilled in embroidery to teach embroidery skills to women from all over the country;
Madam Xu, please rest assured that once my memorial is approved by the court, I will never teach Madam Xu and others the skills in vain. The court will pay you appropriate salaries, and even grant you official positions or imperial orders to reward you for your contributions to the country and the people. contribute;
In addition, I will also propose the establishment of an embroidery engineering department to bring together the most skilled people in embroidery to discuss innovations in embroidery stitches and categories; experts in Hunan embroidery, Shu embroidery, and Bian embroidery can also be brought together to learn from each other. , work together to improve embroidery skills and innovate more embroidery techniques;
I am very optimistic about the embroidery industry. Not only in the whole world, but also in the south of the Yangtze River, if every household can do embroidery and all women learn from women, the output of embroidery will be very impressive.
By then, whether it is sold domestically throughout the Song Dynasty or sold overseas, countless wealth will be created, and countless people will benefit from it. As the inheritor of Su embroidery, Mrs. Xu, I dare to say that her name will be remembered for future generations. "
Yang Yi has a salary, an official position, and a reputation for future generations. Shen Sanniang's statement that she is not moved is a lie. It's just that the matter is serious and she can't make the decision, so she has to consult her husband's opinion.
"If Xu Jinghong has any opinions, does he dare to say no?"
¡°Besides, this matter always brings more advantages than disadvantages to the Xu family, and he has no reason to object.
At this point, Xia Mingqing, the county magistrate, understood the real purpose of Yang Yi's sudden appearance in Wuxian County. He couldn't help but sigh: "Master Yang is far-sighted and dedicated to the welfare of all people. As a local magistrate, he failed to think of this. He is really ashamed of the official family." , feel ashamed?The imperial court and the people of this county have been warned by Taifu Yang today. I will definitely fulfill my duties from now on and vigorously encourage more women in the county to learn embroidery skills, so that the prosperous scene of embroidery in every family will be formed in Wu County first. "
Yang Yi smiled and said: "It's best if Mr. Xia has this kind of heart. I will pay attention to it. When the grand scene of embroidery appears in every family, I will be the first to ask for credit for Mr. Xia."
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Accompanied by Xia Mingqing and Xu Jinghong, Yang Yi checked several other embroidery workshops. Indeed, as Xu Jinghong said, these embroidery workshops are relatively small, with no more than twenty people at most, and their embroidery skills are slightly different from Shen Sanniang's.
Yang Yi finally understood that in order to become a Suzhou embroidery artist in Xiangjian, in addition to accumulation of experience, talent is more important. Shen Sanniang has only learned embroidery for eighty-nine years and is only seventeen years old this year. However, because of his spirituality, his embroidery skills are more important. She became number one in Wu County, and her embroidery skills were better than many middle-aged and elderly women.
Yang Yi does not expect that everyone can learn the superb skills of Shen Sanniang. As long as he can embroider with ordinary embroidery skills, he will have the confidence to go overseas and earn high profits.
Because in terms of embroidery, the standards of various countries are far behind the Song Dynasty. In many countries, no one even knows how to embroider. The worst embroidery here can become a treasure overseas. If you take out embroidery with too high artistic value, no one may understand it. Appreciate it.
As for the establishment of "Training Institute" and "Embroidery Engineering Department", Yang Yi didn't have to worry about failing in the court. Women embroidering was just like men studying and farming. In this era, it was a matter of course and the officials had no reason to object.
" To put it another way, if there are official objections, Yang Yi can definitely force this matter through his own faction. Today he arrived in Wu County. It is destined that Su embroidery will flourish in Jiangnan in a few years. Yang Yi is confident.
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ps: Thanks to friends such as Qiu Zhi Shen Guang, Shui Wu Tian Hua, SH, angelance, Red Sun, Yulong Xinxin, Huajia Tangshao, Moonlight BMW, Gusu Sansheng, etc. for their support. Thank you all.